I need to gain more power, for power I need resources, and my family currently is far too weak to provide me any help.
That is why I need to go elsewhere to train, just for a bit, before I can return to show off our strength to Mount Hwa!
One of the best places to do it is the Military Academy of Gansu, it's like a high school for martial artists, for all local kids to come to and train, after which they try to apply to a Great Sect or marry into a Noble House, sometimes they decide to go to the Higher Institute of Murim and become a warrior of Murim instead.
But that's not my goal, I'll stay there for 2 years, take the tests, and leave, I should be powerful enough to wander off and train in isolation by myself for a year, then the Mount Hwa tournament will come…
Now, since I'm going to a Gansu Academy, there's bound to be tons of kids wanting to be Zhongnian disciples, since that's the Great Sect that rules the Gansu province
But I don't care! With this Five Flames Art, all will bow to the name of Yan.
So after two days of travel by carriage, I arrived at the location.
It had a large, ornate gate, befitting of a regional military school.
If I hadn't timed it wrong, the examinations for entrance should be today!
After talking to some locals, I was led to a long line of kids, waiting their turn, there were two, in fact.
I approached the shorter one and tapped the shoulder of the closest person, he looked similar to me, but had blue hair and a sword by his waist.
"Excuse me, my name is Yan Mo, could I ask what this line is for?" I stayed respectful, giving a slight bow and putting my hands together.
"Ah, my name is Guo Yanzhi, this line is for the Black Robe Disciple Tests for the Gansu Military Academy, how do you not know this?" The man had eyes that seemed closed and yet he could see me perfectly. Guo Yanzhi…meaning Word and Will, a scholar-like swordsman perhaps?
"Ah, no, I'm a few days travel away, I'm not much knowledgeable to the workings around here."
"Is that so? Then I'll tell you all you need to know!" He put his finger up as though he was a teacher explaining to his students, "The Gansu Military Academy separates their students into Yellow Robes and Black Robes, with the black robes being superior to the yellow robes. You should come into this line if you have a strong body and have practiced martial arts before, otherwise go into the Yellow Robe line, where the commoners kids and youth go to make name for themselves. But I see you have a sword on your waist and you seem to be decently athletic, so I guess you found the right line. Say, I come alone too, what say you we be brothers and help each other for the years we'll be in this academy?"
"I see no reason as to decline such a nice offer, brother Zhi, heh, say, do you happen to know the different in the examination?"
"Ah! You're already calling me nicknames? Damn you, haha! Alas, I don't know, all I've been told is that the Black Robe examination is shorter but more strict, with only a handful of students making it in each year."
"Is that so? I see, then I wish best of luck to you, brother Yanzhi!"
"And the same to you, brother Mo."
.
.
.
An excruciating wait longer
I've been talking with my new brother while waiting, he also comes from a family as the only cultivator, but his is that of commoners, he said his father simply met a warrior of Murim once and the warrior was kind enough to teach basic swordsmanship to him, after which, he of course taught his son.
Of course, I knew basic swordsmanship too, but I have another hidden trick! The first of seventeen stances of the Five Flames Art, but if I no need to show off my hidden trick, perhaps I won't.
After all, besides the basic swordsmanship, I know of the Soaring Red Flame Art, with only three stances, it's extremely difficult to master, yet easy to learn, and although it's only minorly better than basic swordsmanship, it is immensely flashy to the point of making one think they're watching a soaring dragon!
Finally, at the end of the line, Brother Zhi went through to the examination, I waited behind the closed doors for a few minutes, before I was told to follow him…
I was led to a rectangular training grounds, in front of me were three wooden dummies, each of differing size.
Beyond the dummies sat three examiners, one was elevated above the rest, surely he was some influential figure. This just meant I needed to show off even more!
The exam was simple, these three dummies will be activated at once, and I will have to knock them down any way I could!
Two of them were around my size, while the last was much bigger and much thicker than the rest.
Obviously he'll be the bigger problem, so to avoid any pestering in that duel, I aimed to get rid of his two companions first!
"Soaring Red Flame Art, First Stance!—"
I unsheathed my sword and it was coated in red flames, a manifestation of my Qi.
I brought it close by my face and pointed it at my target, then I leaped forth with tremendous force.
Red fire trailed behind me and to the outsider, it would seem they were watching a dragon breathing its flame!
"—Dragon's Breath!"
I pierced the dummy straight through its thick head, downing it instantly.
But I didn't have time to revel or even think of how easily he fell, the other dummy tried to slam me down to the ground, but I managed to kick the ground and roll myself out the way.
Okay, if the rest are so easy to take down as the first, maybe I won't even take a minute!
"Soaring Red Flame Arts, Second Stance!—"
My blade erupted in a red flame a second time, I held it with both hands and a semi-steady foundation, I brought it up above my right shoulder and swung it down to my left side.
A crescent flame flew out of my blade, aiming straight for the second dummy.
"—Burning Moon!"
It made contact but it wasn't enough power to take it down.
Tsk, no wonder we're currently so pitiful, our arts are flashy but don't do much beyond that.
The dummy rushed forward, swinging wild fists, each and any could knock me out without a need for a second swing, but such wild swings meant they were easy to read and evade!
"Soaring Red Flame Art, Third Stance!—"
I leapt up into the air, flames trailing me, I let my left hand release the sword so I held it only with my right.
I spun once in the air, my blade gathering fire again, then I started to fall again, like a meteor down onto the second dummy.
I pointed my sword down and had my left hand by my cheek.
"—Soaring Dragon, Falling Flame!"
I landed to a cloud of dust and smoke, but the dummy finally laid dead.
Hm..speaking of which, ever since the battle started, I hadn't seen that last dummy, the giant one almost double my size…
Behind me I heard a 'whoosh' sound, I turned quickly to see what it was
The last dummy, with its fist already barreling down on my face, it was far too late to dodge
Is this it? Is my examination bound to end with a failure?…